Conveyor and escalator for transporting eggs and the like

ABSTRACT

A conveyor and escalator for transporting objects having a substantially uniform size and length such as eggs horizontally, vertically and helically vertically comprising at least one flexible endless support means; a drive means operably engaging said flexible endless support means for driving said flexible endless support means in a direction of advance; and a plurality of equispaced elongated paddles attached substantially perpendicular to said flexible endless support means, said paddles being adapted to support an object during linear travel and to open for receiving or releasing said object therebetween during arcuate travel. The endless flexible support means comprises an endless chain, an endless belt or an endless cable. Preferably, the endless flexible support means comprises a pair or parallel spaced-apart endless chains and at least two linearly-spaced sprocket wheels engaging each said endless chain for supporting said chain in linear travel between the sprocket wheels and in arcuate travel about said sprocket wheels, and means for rotating said sprocket wheels for advancing the endless chains. The elongated paddles may have an I-section with means at opposite ends of the I-section for removably connecting said paddles at said opposite ends to the endless chains transversely to the said direction of advance whereby the paddles remain vertically upright during horizontal linear travel to support objects on adjacent upper flanges and whereby the paddles pivot relative to each other about a longitudinal central axis during arcuate travel to open adjacent paddles at the upper flanges to receive objects therebetween during downward arcuate travel and to open adjacent paddles at adjacent lower flanges to discharge objects therefrom during upward arcuate travel. The paddles optionally may have an I-shaped cross-section, a C-shaped cross-section, a Z-shaped cross-section, an inverted J-shaped cross-section, an inverted T-shaped cross-section or an inverted 7-shaped cross-section.

This application is a 371 of PCT/CA98/00785 filed Aug. 18, 1998, whichclaims benefit to Provisional application Ser. No. 60/055988 filed Aug.18, 1997.

(i) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for transporting aplurality of like objects having a substantially uniform size and, moreparticularly, relates to a method and a conveyor and escalator apparatusfor transporting eggs and the like objects.

(ii) Description of the Related Art

Egg conveyors form an essential element in a typical egg collectionapparatus. A typical egg collection system has a main conveyor forreceiving eggs from a nest ancillary conveyors for delivering the eggsfor further processing, and a packing machine for packaging the eggs.

Transferring the eggs between different handling apparatus involves asuccession of transfer points with each successive transfer pointincreasing the likelihood of damage to the eggs, which can significantlydecrease the productivity of the operation. Present systems involvenumerous transfer points because of the number of different handlingapparatus.

The conveyors of the prior art systems rely on gravity to retain theeggs on the conveyor surface. In order to change the direction orelevation of the egg path, the eggs must be transferred to an elevatoror inclined belt conveyor, and then usually transferred back to anotherconveyor, not only increasing the number of transfer points and risk ofdamage to the eggs but also requiring a large working space in which tohandle the eggs.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,254 (Dowty) issued Jan. 18, 1994, U.S. Pat. No.4,345,682 (White et al.) issued Aug. 24, 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,485(Walters) issued Jun. 27, 1972, U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,905 (Mombris et al.)issued Dec. 14, 1971, U.S. Pat. No. 3,166,175 (Kurtz et al.) issued Jan.19, 1965, and Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,002,588 laid openon May 11, 1990, disclose egg collecting systems having a conveyor beltfor transferring eggs to an elevator which transfers eggs to across-conveyor.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,717 (McKinlay) issued Nov. 22, 1994 discloses openbaskets mounted on a continuous conveyor which move from an uprightloading position to an inverted unloading position for discharge into aloading chute and delivery into egg flats. U.S. Pat. No. 3,166,175(Kurtz et al.) issued Jan. 19, 1965 discloses an egg collection andelevator conveyor system which comprises egg flights consisting ofequispaced parallel bars forming elongated open pockets which supporteggs thereon by rearwardly tilting of the open pockets on an elevatorand which discharge eggs by forwardly tilting the pockets downwardly.

All these patents use multiple conveyor systems in combination withelevator systems for transferring eggs between conveyors located atdifferent elevations. These systems have an increased likelihood ofdamage to the eggs because of the plurality of transfer points betweenthe different handling apparatus. Additionally, these systems arerelatively complex and thus expensive to manufacture and to maintain.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of the prior art may be substantially overcome byproviding a novel conveyor and escalator for transporting eggs and thelike which obviates or mitigates at least one disadvantage of the priorart.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a conveyor andescalator for transporting objects having a substantially uniform sizeand shape, such as chicken eggs, with a minimum of transfer points in areduced working space.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a conveyor andescalator which can elevate eggs vertically upwardly or downwardly fromone level to another and can change the direction of travel of the eggsduring vertical travel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor and escalatorthat is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to maintain, andsubstantially trouble-free in operation to safely transport eggs withminimum breakage.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda conveyor system for transporting like objects having a substantiallyuniform size and shape. The conveyor system may have a pair of endlesschains mounted in a spaced parallel relation with each other with adrive operably engaging the endless chains for synchronously driving theendless chains. A plurality of spaced paddles are rigidly connected toand extend between the endless chains. The paddles are equi-spaced fordefining a receiving volume therebetween with adjacent upper and lowersupports for receiving and supporting like objects. The paddles have aclosed condition when travelling substantially linearly and an opencondition when travelling arcuately, urging the adjacent upper supportsto move apart allowing the like objects to pass therebetween into thereceiving volume during downward arcuate travel and urging the adjacentlower supports to move apart allowing the like objects to passtherebetween out of the receiving volume. A plate preferably isselectively placed to cooperate with the spaced paddles for closing thereceiving volume to retain like objects within the receiving volume whenthe paddles are travelling arcuately in an inverted condition.

In its broad aspect, the conveyor and escalator for transporting objectshaving a substantially uniform size and length comprises at least oneflexible endless support means; a drive means operably engaging saidflexible endless support means for driving said flexible endless supportmeans in a direction of advance; and a plurality of equispaced elongatedpaddles attached substantially perpendicular to said flexible endlesssupport means, for defining a receiving volume therebetween which closesduring linear travel to contain an object in the receiving volume orsupport the object on the paddles, and which opens during arcuate travelto receive or release an object contained in the receiving volume orsupported on the paddles. The endless flexible support means comprisesan endless chain, an endless belt or an endless cable. The endlessflexible support means preferably comprises a pair of parallelspaced-apart endless chains and at least two linearly-spaced sprocketwheels engaging each said endless chain for supporting said chain inlinear travel between the sprocket wheels and in arcuate travel aboutsaid sprocket wheels, and means for rotating said sprocket wheels foradvancing the endless chains.

Preferably said elongated paddles have an I-section and means atopposite ends of the I-section for removably connecting said paddles atsaid opposite ends to the endless chains transversely to the saiddirection of advance. Each paddle comprises an elongated web havinglongitudinal side edges and a flange having an inner face attachedcentrally along said face to each longitudinal edge of the web to forman I-section having a longitudinal central axis, means at opposite endsof the I-section for removably connecting said paddles at opposite endsto the endless chains at said longitudinal central axis transversely tothe endless chains and perpendicular to the endless chains whereby thepaddles remain vertically upright during horizontal linear travel tosupport objects on adjacent upper flanges and whereby the paddles pivotrelative to each other about said longitudinal central axis duringarcuate travel to open adjacent paddles at the upper flanges to receiveobjects therebetween during downward arcuate travel and to open adjacentpaddles at adjacent lower flanges to discharge objects therefrom duringupward arcuate travel. Each paddle may comprise an elongated web havingan arcuate flange with a concave inner face attached centrally alongeach said face to said longitudinal edge of the web to form an I-sectionhaving a longitudinal central axis, and an end plate having a pair orupstanding spaced-apart fingers at each end adapted to receive thepaddle web therebetween and to engage the concave inner face of theadjacent arcuate flange, and means formed centrally on the end platesfor rigidly connecting each of the end plate transversely to the endlesschains perpendicular thereto.

The paddles optionally may have a C-shaped cross-section, a Z-shapedcross-section, an inverted J-shaped cross-section, or an invertedT-shaped cross-section or an inverted 7-shaped cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The method and apparatus of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly schematic, illustrating anembodiment of the conveyor and escalator of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the method of operation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an end connector plate of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of paddle of thepresent invention with end plate preparatory to securement to an endlesschain;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevation of another embodiment of paddleshowing an end plate to retain like objects within the conveyor;

FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic view of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5 travelling vertically downwardly with a right angle change indirection of travel;

FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic view of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8 actuated by a single, central endless chain travelling verticallydownwardly with a right angle change in direction of travel;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a C-section with a central chain drivein linear travel;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side elevation of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8 illustrating the C-section paddle turning downwardly fromhorizontal, linear travel downwardly through 180° arcuate travel tohorizontal linear travel in the opposite direction, with an end platefor retaining like objects within the C-shaped section;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of C-shapedsection driven by a central cable and guided by side closure plates;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side elevation of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 10 illustrating horizontal travel downwardly through 180° arcuatetravel to opposite horizontal linear travel;

FIG. 12 is a schematic side elevation of a still further embodiment ofthe present invention showing inverted T-sections for receiving likeobjects and transferring said like objects into cartons;

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a vertical schematic view illustrating an egg collecting andelevating system of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a vertical schematic view of a further system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic side elevation of a portion of the system shownin FIG. 14; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic elevation view of a J-shaped paddle of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of conveyor and escalator system in accordance with thepresent invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2.Conveyor and escalator system 10 comprises an enclosed metal housing 11having two parallel extending chains 12 and 14 mounted for continuoustravel about a plurality of sprockets 13, 15, two of which are shown, inan endless path. Chains 12 and 14 can have any orientation, providedeach remains substantially parallel to the other. As is apparent, thechains 12 and 14 can travel vertically, horizontally and, as will bedescribed, in a cylindrical helix pattern. Also, the conveyor can beturned on its side once loaded, to convey objects in a vertical plane,by orienting one chain above the other.

Extending perpendicular to the chains 12 and 14 and secured thereto area plurality of equispaced paddles 16. The number of spaced paddles 16will depend on the lengths of the chains 12 and 14, there being asufficient number to present a continuous stream of spaced-apart paddles16 without interruption.

Paddles 16 are generally I-shaped in cross section. As shown moreclearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, each I-shaped paddle has a central web 18 andupper and lower flanges 20, 22 respectively joined to the web alongopposite edges thereof such as by co-extrusion of a plastic material orlight metal or steel. Each paddle is rigidly secured at its oppositeends to a link 24 of endless chain 12 by end plate 26 having a pair ofspaced-apart upstanding fingers 28, 30 at one end and a pair ofspaced-apart upstanding fingers 32, 34 at the opposite end for receivingpaddle web 18 therebetween and for underlying and abutting flanges 20,22. A pair of rivets 36, 38 inserted into end plate holes 40, 42 tie theassembly together to maintain each paddle 16 perpendicular to itsrespective chain link 24 and equally spaced from adjacent paddles.

The paddles 16 are equispaced along the chains 12 and 14 such thatadjacent flanges 20, 22 of adjacent paddles 16 are spaced apart lessthan the size, i.e, width of an object such as an egg. As a result, whenthe paddles are travelling linearly, adjacent paddles 16 will support anegg on top of the upper flanges 20. As the chains 12 and 14 traveldownwardly about an outside turn, the upper flanges 20 of paddles 16will be urged apart, allowing an object which was previously supportedon top of paddles 16 to fall into and be received between adjacentpaddles 16 into a receiving cavity 44 defined between paddle webs 18.The flanges 22 at the lower ends of paddles 16 will be directed togetherpresenting an egg receiving area which will support and cradle the eggas it drops down between the adjacent paddles 16.

Returning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, eggs 42 from side belt conveyors 50, 52travelling from right to left are deflected onto upper flanges 20 ofpaddles 16 of conveyor 10 by deflectors 54, one of which is shown, fortravel on flanges 20 in the direction designated by arrow 56 (FIG. 2).Upon downward arcuate travel over sprocket 13 (FIG. 1), upper flanges 20are urged apart to allow eggs 42 to fall into receiving cavity 44 to besupported by lower flanges 22.

Semi-circular plate 60 prevents accidental release of an egg from theconveyor at the bottom of the turn. Eggs are conveyed to the left andturned upwardly through about 120° with semi-circular plate 62preventing release of the eggs. The conveyor is then turned throughabout 70° to the horizontal and eggs 42 subsequently released by turningthe conveyor through upward arcuate travel at 64. Eggs 42 are gentlydischarged onto belt conveyor 66 and removed. The endless conveyorreturns to the right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 for return to the eggloading area. FIG. 1 additionally shows an upper vertical adjustment 68for adjusting the tension of chains 12, 14. A drive motor 70 isconnected to drive sprockets.

With reference to FIG. 5, a Z-shaped paddle 70 is shown supporting eggs42 on upper flange 72. Upon downturn of the conveyor, the eggs 42descend into the cavity defined between webs 74 for support by lowerflange 76. An arcuate plate 80 restrains eggs 42 from discharge.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 5 in adescending helical turn of 90° for a change of direction with loweringof the eggs from an upper level to a lower level, parallel chains 77, 79passing over sprocket wheels, not shown, for controlled change ofdirection.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of C-shaped paddle 80 driven by asingle central chain 82 in a descending helical turn of 90° for a changeof direction with a change of height.

The C-shaped paddle 80 of FIG. 7 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 8in which chain 82 is rivetted to opposed paddles 80 a and 80 b. An endclosure guide 84 slidably receives flanges 86, 88 at the open end of thepaddles to restrain eggs 42 within the paddles and to guide the paddlesthrough helical upward or downward turns.

FIG. 9 shows a C-shaped paddle supporting eggs 42 during horizontallinear travel and entry of eggs during initiation of downward arcuatetravel. Eggs 42 are restrained within the paddles by end plate 90 duringdownward arcuate travel.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate another embodiment of C-paddle 92 guided byclosure guide plates 94, 96 and advanced for continuous travel by cable98 secured to the web 100 of each paddle. Cable 98 also functions as adivider to separate the C-paddle into two compartments. Separation meanssuch as partitions can be secured to web 100 to divide each paddle intotwo or more compartments. Partitions can be moveable between a narrowspacing, used for transporting eggs in the conveyor and escalatorsystem, to a wider spaced position for orienting eggs according to theegg packer apparatus described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.5,365,717. Partitions also can be staggered to permit feeding of eggs tothe above-mentioned packer apparatus.

FIG. 12 illustrates an inverted T paddle conveyor having equispacedT-shaped paddles 102 interconnected by a chain, cable or belt,preferably a chain as depicted by the sprocket wheels 104, 106, fortransferring objects 108 such as golf balls or eggs from conveyor 110onto the upstanding stems 112 of the T-paddles and into cavities 114between stems 112 upon the T-shaped paddles straightening into lineartravel and then into an arcuate outside turn. Semi-cylindrical plate 114restrains objects 108 until the paddles reach planar base 114, at whichtime the paddles advance objects 108 into packing trays 116 on conveyor118.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of C-shaped paddle 120 having circularend plates 122, 124 at opposite ends thereof for uniform parallelspacing of adjacent paddles during linear and arcuate vertical traveland during upward or downward helical travel for concurrent change ofdirection and height. Cable 123 with divider 125 separate the paddlecavity into a pair of compartments. Flanges 127 are spaced sufficientlyclose to each other to support eggs when the conveyor is in lineartravel and are urged apart during arcuate travel to receive an eggtherebetween.

FIG. 14 typifies an egg collection system utilizing the conveyor andescalator of the invention in which conveyor 130 receives eggs 132 froma plurality of egg laying levels typified by level 134 and ramp 136.Eggs are received at upward and downward outer turns as illustrated moreclearly in FIG. 16 for an upward arcuate turn.

With particular reference to FIG. 16, as the chains travel upwardlythrough an outside turn about sprocket 140, an egg 142 on ramp or beltconveyor 144 rolls between the outer flange 146 of paddles 148 as theupper flanges are urged apart. Plate 150 retains eggs 142 between thepaddles as they travel about sprocket 152. The eggs are collected byseveral vertical combinations of sprockets 140, 152 as the conveyorrises at the ends of the cage rows between the egg belts 144.

FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of egg conveyor and escalator system inwhich conveyor 160 passes alternatively back and forth beneath verticallevels of egg laying roosts. Eggs 162 ride on the upper flanges of thepaddles until downward arcuate turns are reached, at which time thepaddles open as discussed above to receive the eggs or like objects inthe cavities between the paddles. The objects are conveyed to adischarge ramp 164 for egress from the system, or can be carried to apacking table 166 shown by ghost lines.

FIG. 17 illustrates a J-shaped paddle 180 embodiment in which upperflanges 182 support eggs or the like objects 183 during horizontallinear travel and bottom flange 184 supports objects 183 during arcuatetravel, in combination with semi-circular plate 186, or duringhorizontal linear travel when the object is contained within the cavity188.

I claim:
 1. A conveyor and escalator for transporting objects having asubstantially uniform size and length comprising a pair of parallelspaced-apart endless chains and at least two linearly-spaced sprocketwheels engaging each said endless chain for supporting said chain inlinear travel between the sprocket wheels and in arcuate travel aboutsaid sprocket wheels, and means for rotating said sprocket wheels foradvancing the endless chains in a direction of advance, a plurality ofequispaced elongated paddles attached substantially perpendicular tosaid chains for defining a receiving volume therebetween which closesduring linear travel to contain an object in the receiving volume orsupport the object on the paddles, and which opens during arcuate travelto receive or release an object contained in the receiving volume orsupported on the paddles, each paddle comprising an elongated web havinglongitudinal side edges and an arcuate flange having a concave innerface attached centrally along said concave face to each longitudinaledge of the web to form an I-section having a longitudinal central axis,an end plate having a pair of upstanding spaced-apart fingers located ateach end of the paddle adapted to receive the paddle web therebetweenand to engage the concave inner face of the adjacent arcuate flange, andmeans formed centrally on the end plates for removably rigidlyconnecting each of the end plates transversely to the endless chainsperpendicular thereto, whereby the paddles remain vertically uprightduring horizontal linear travel to support objects on adjacent upperflanges and whereby the paddles pivot relative to each other about saidlongitudinal central axis during arcuate travel to open adjacent paddlesat the upper flanges to receive objects therebetween during upward ordownward arcuate travel and to open adjacent paddles at adjacent lowerflanges to receive or discharge objects therefrom during upward ordownward arcuate travel.